I had the great blessing of hearing Jody Mayhew speak last Saturday on the topic of deceptions. She was teaching on our triune makeup: body, soul and spirit. She mentioned the fact that all of creation is in the middle of a long, very long war. Once Eve ate that apple and leaned in to her autonomy rather than asking God for help, all of mankind was plunged into a war in which evil threatens to overcome good.

While we know that ultimately goodness wins, the battle still rages–often right within our “own bad selves”. Jody made me think about war-weary soldiers. How do they feel? What might come out of their mouths? Is it possible they’re not only physically exhausted, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually fragile? I think of our men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. They return to a world that has gone on without them, seldom even thinking about their stress-filled days and nights fighting in a foreign land. Many come home injured and find their healthcare inadequate. Their friends don’t understand what they’ve been through. They know the war is raging, but their own people don’t care very much. They are disheartened.

I think that’s how the church and its people are feeling today. I’ve been known to criticize the church. We’re too isolated from the world, we’re insensitive, judgmental, we fight about petty things–you’ve heard the same criticisms, I’m sure. And maybe I’ve even said that I love God, but I’m pretty tired of churches. Recently an innocent little grandson honestly told me: “I don’t like to go to church, but I do love God.” Wow. Even the kids are sensing something lacking in  what we call church.

War weary soldiers may become a bit cynical. They’ve laid it all on the line and no one cares or understands. They may be a bit ashamed of the things they’ve done in the service of their country. They’ve seen too many ugly things, been under pressure for too long, maybe fear they’ve been failures. Think of all the pastors and church leaders who have given their entire careers in the effort to build the church. What’s gone wrong?

I wondered as I listened to Jody speak and pictured exhausted, battle-weary soldiers. Does this ring true for any of you? Is the church too often missing the heart of the commandment to love God and to love others as much as ourselves? Do we really love or are we too exhausted? Are we cynical about sharing a message of hope when our own people can’t get along with each other?

Strangely, after thinking about wars and battles and exhaustion in God’s people I actually felt encouraged. “Well of course,” I said to myself. “That’s exactly how I feel a lot of the time. I’m critical of the deadness, the zombie-like rigidity of our programs and our efforts. The people are tired from battling the enemy. We need revival-we need new troops, new rations, a burst of energy from some victory once in a while.”

Goodness will win. And we will be part of that victory. But in the meantime, we’d better get a good look at our enemy. The one who wants us to be miserable, ashamed, fearful and despondent. Let’s lean away from that one. Let’s lean the other way to the One who says He knows us and loves us no matter what.